Rail slide



Ilnited States Patent 3,292,986 RAIL SLIDE Jay G. Fenwick, Mundelein,lll., assigner to Morton Manufaeturing Company, Chicago, Ill., acorporation of Illinois Filed .lune 22, 1964, Ser. No. 376,985 3 Claims.(Cl. 312-333) This application is a continuation-impart of my copendingapplication, Serial No. 362,712, filed April 27, 1964.

This invention relates to a rail slide, and, more particularly, to aslide mounting which is advantageously ernployed in connection with adrawer, shelf, platform, or like slidable, extensible member.

As indicated immediately above, the invention has application to a widevariety of uses. However, an important and readily comprehended useexists in the drawer field. The matter of reducing friction andfacilitating sliding of drawers is an historic one. By and large, theart has resorted either to a complete absence of frictionreducing means,or very complex constructions for facilitating the sliding of drawersand like platforms.

The object of this invention is thus to solve this historic problem andprovide a novel means for slidably supporting a platform-providingsurface such as a drawer, which is simple, yet effective. Reference tothat application may be had for additional details of construction andoperation not set down in this case.

Part of the difliculty with existing bearing supports is the workrequired for installation. In contrast to this, the instant inventionprovides a slide of essentially unitary construction which embodies asimple yet rugged design for making tooling very economical as comparedto present methods. In particular, the instant structure provides forgreater simplicity in cabinet construction and drawerconstruction-eliminating the so-called mating drawer body trackhardware. Manufacturing costs are further decreased because of theelimination of extra parts, i.e., the drawer bottom track is formed fromthe drawer bottom itself; the slide is a one-piece part including meansfor mounting or attaching the same to a desired cabinet, wall, etc. Theprovision of such an advantageously constructed slide thus constitutesanother object of the invention.

In particular, the invention, in contrast to what has gone before, doesnot require the expensive, very precise locating of the conventionalroller. This simplifies manufacturing finishing and, most of all,installation. The unit can be installed in any area between two verticalwalls utilizing conventional installation methods. Thus, the inventionmakes available for the first time a simple but strong, long lived,economical drawer or other type slide for commercial or home useapplication. It is susceptible of installation in any cabinet structure,and its positioning and locating is automatically controlled by ytheshape and function of the unit. In View of this, still another object ofthe invention is to provide a rail slide embodying a unique roller andrail coaction which is advantageously incorporated into a Wide varietyof mounting structures and without the need of having the slide dictatethe mounting structure arrangement but, instead, adapting the slide tothe mounting structure.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a rail slide whichadvantageously incorporates a self-closing feature adjustable, forexample, to any drawer depth and without the usually expected costlytooling changes. However, the self-closing feature can be eliminated(and again without tool changes) for special applications such as deskdrawers, kitchen cabinets, etc.

A yet further object of the invention is to provide a rail track orslide which is constructed so as to be interchangeable, i.e., right-handor left-hand, which is significantly effective in simplifying productionand inventory controls and in the reduction of costs.

Other objects and advantages of the invention may be seen in the detailsof operation and construction set down in this specification.

The invention is explained in conjunction with the accompanying drawing,in which- FIG. l is an exploded, fragmentary, perspective View of anembodiment of the invention featuring the application of the inventionto a drawer part;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged front elevational view of the rail track or guidemember found in the central portion of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view of the monorail track such as would beseen from the sight line 3-3 applied to FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 4 4 appliedto FIG. 2.

In the illustration given and with particular reference to FIG. 1, thenumeral 10 designates generally a frame for receiving a drawer generallydesignated 11 (illustrated as a fragment of the bottom). Further, theframe 10 includes a right side wall 12 and a front subframe 13. Theright wall 12, the front subframe 13, and a left side wall (not shown)are interconnectable along with a rear wall 14 to define a generallyrectangular enclosure for receiving the drawer part 11. Further, eachside wall provides means or a base for the mounting of the inventivemonorail slide or guide member generally designated 15 (also seen inmore detailed form in FIGS. 2-4). The position of the front subframe 13,when installed, is seen in dotted line and is designated by the numeral13. In like fashion, the slide member 15, in its installed condition, isshown in dotted line and is designated by the numeral 15.

More specifically, in the illustration given, the side wall 12 isequipped with a C-shaped flange at its front end as at 16. The flange 16constitutes half of an interlock cooperating with a mating C-shapedflange 17 provided on the rail slide member 15. Additionally, theC-shaped flange 16 receives a complementarily-contoured flange 18provided on the front subframe 13. The flange 18 is seen to beforeshortened, i.e., terminating short of the base of the front subframe13, as at 19, to accommodate mounting the flange 17 of the rail slidemember 15 in the flange 16.

Referring to the upper right-hand corner in FIG. 1 wherein the frontsubframe 13 is depicted in fragmentary form, the numeral 20 designates agrooved roller which constitutes one sliding bearing -for the drawer 11.The other sliding roller bearing for the drawer part 11 is provided inthe form of a second grooved roller designated 21 and which is rotatablymounted on a depending side flange 22 provided as part of the drawerpart 11 (see FIG. 4).

elongated slot generally designated 26 provided in` the elongated railslide member 15.

The slot 26 is seen to include two longitudinallyextending portions: afirst portion designated 27 in the dotted line showing of member 15 inFIG. 1, in which the slot-defining side edges 28 and 29 are parallel;and a second portion designated 30 in FIG. 1 (relative to the showingdesignated 15') wherein the side edges as at 31 and 32 diverge inproceeding toward the rear wall 14. Advantageously, the divergence ofeach wall relative to the longitudinal center line of the member 15 isof the order of 2. This provides automatic shelf-closing or self-seatingof the drawer part 11. The symmetry of the slot 26 about thelongitudinal center line makes it possible to use an identical elementfor the left-hand or second wall part (not shown).

Provision is made for the complete withdrawal of the drawer part 11 (andhere it should be understood that a platform or shelf may be substitutedas desired for the drawer part 11) through having the slot 26communicate through the end wall 33 of the member 15 as at 34. Thus, thesecond grooved roller 21 can be withdrawn from the slot 26.

Advantageously, the member 15 is developed by welding a slot-containingportion 35 (see FIG. 4) to a base portion 36. Equally advantageously,the rail can be economically formed from a variety of materials inaddition to steel, such as aluminum, plastic, and wood. It iscontemplated that the material will be determined by the actual end useof the invention, and thus the supporting structure, i.e., the cabinet,determines the character of the slide rather than the reverse, which ischaracteristic of present-day expedients.

Also, as can be appreciated from a consideration of FIG. 1, the member15 is provided with intermediate end wall portions as at 33 to providesteps as at 37. The member 15 is rigidly but removably mounted in placethrough the coaction of the channels 17 and 38 (at the front and rearends, respectively), with the complementary channels 16 provided in theside wall 12. Any tendency of the member 15 to rise Within the channels16 is opposed by the weight of thefront frame member 13. Additionally,the channels 16 are notched as at 39 (see FIG. 1) to facilitateinsertion of the member 15. Thus, if the frame is a rigidly connectedenclosure (as contrasted to theseparable parts shown), it is possible tomount the slide member without disassembling the frame 10.

In the illustration given, however, the frame 10 is of the separable ordetachable type, and for this purpose the rear channel of the side wall12 is equipped with a lock element generally designated 40 which coactswith complementarily-contoured channel 41 provided on the rear wall part14.

In the operation of the device, the slide member 15 is mounted in theside wall 12 as shown in dotted line at 15' in FIG. l-the side wall 12serving as a base to cause the slot 26 to lie in a plane parallel to,but spaced from, the side wall 12. Operably associated with the member15 is the lower portion of the front subframe 13 which carries the rstgrooved roller 20. A consideration of FIG. 4 reveals that the lower edge23 of the drawer flange 22 is spaced further away from the side wall 12than the groove 25 of the second grooved roller 21, so that anadvantageous lateral stabilization is provided along both sides of thedrawer part 11. Still further, the bearing provided by the slot, tiange,and rollers occurs at different vertical levels on each side, developinga still further stabilization. In some instances, it may be desirable toprovide the roller 20 as part of the member 15, as contrasted to havingthe same Operably associated therewith as shown, and where the drawerpart 11 is desired to be used as a platform, upstanding side walls todeline a drawer enclosure can be omitted. In the illustration given,elongated openings 42 are provided in the platform portion 43 of thedrawer part 11 for the mounting of upstanding side and end walls.

The above-described construction allows for greater use of cubic spacein cabinet and drawer constructions. Using the rail slide 15 results inat least about a 17% increase in certain drawer and cabinet storagespaceover existing methods and hardware. The construction of the railand grooved rollers allows for` greater increase in drawer span becauseof the improved stability described hereinbefore. Until this invention,a four-foot drawer was the longest span possible to obtain functionallywith old designs. The rail will function on a five-foot span withoutbinding on grooved rollers. This is especially significant, since thedrawer or shelf can now be operated at any point along the facia of theunit. The old type track and slide arrangement had to be operated fromthe general center line of the unit or else drawers would bind and lock.

While in the foregoing specification a detailed description of anembodiment of the invention has been set down for the purpose ofillustration, many variations in the details herein given may be made bythose skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention.

I claim:

1. A mounting for slidably supporting a platform member, comprising aframe providing spaced-apart, confronting walls, an elongated, generallyhorizontallyextending slot in each wall, the lower edge of each slotconstituting a guide rail, first grooved roller means outstanding fromeach wall adjacent one end of its associated slot, and a platform memberhaving wall portions extending parallel to said confronting wall, secondgrooved roller means outstanding from each wall portion into one of saidslots land slidably mounted on the guide `rail of its associated slot,each of said slots having a rst end disposed adjacent said first groovedroller means, each slot adjacent the other end thereof having a portionof its guide rail inclined downwardly in proceeding away from said slotirst end, each of said slots being symmetrical about a longitudinalcenter line, said confronting walls being detachable from said frame,whereby said confronting walls may be interchanged.

2. A rail guide for a drawer, and the like, comprising a unitaryplate-like member having a base portion and an elongated wall portiondisposed in spaced parallel connected relation thereto, said wallportion having a longitudinally-extending slot therein commencing at oneend of said wall member but terminating short of the other end of saidwall member, at least one slot edge being straight over at least asubstantial portion of its length to serve as a guide rail for a groovedroller introduced into said slot from said one end, and means on saidbase portion for securing the same to a support structure, said slotadjacent said other end having said one edge downwardly inclinedrelative to said straight portion to cause a grooved roller riding onsaid edge to become seated adjacent said other end, said slot beingsymmetrical about the longitudinal center line of said wall portionwhereby a single guide may be used to support both sides of a drawer,and the like. v

3. A mounting for slidably supporting a platform member, comprising aframe providing spaced-apart, confronting walls, an elongated, generallyhorizontallyextending slot inreach wall, the lower edge of each slotconstituting a guide rail, lirst grooved roller means outstanding fromeach Wall adjacent one end of its associated slot, and a platform memberhaving wall portions extend- 5 6 ing parallel to said confronting wall,second grooved roller References Cited by the Examiner means outstandingfrom each Wall portion into one of UNITED STATES PATENTS said slots andshdably mounted on the guide rail of its associated slot, said platformmember being equipped 1800052 4/1931 Brumbaugh 1%"339 with spaceddepending anges constituting said Wall por- 5 2,328,835 9/1943 MotterS12-341 X tions, each of said flanges providing a second guide rail3106f202 10/1963 Arduna 126-340 along its lower edge for coaction withsaid rst grooved roller means, said rst grooved roller means being posi-CLAUDE A' LE ROY P'lmary Exammer' tioned below said one end of itsassociated slot. F. DOMOTOR, Assistant Examiner.

3. A MOUNTING FOR SLIDABLY SUPPORTING A PLATFORM MEMBER, COMPRISING AFRAME PROVIDING SPACED-APART, CONFRONTING WALLS, AN ELONGATED, GENERALLYHORIZONTALLYEXTENDING SLOT IN EACH WALL, THE LOWER EDGE OF EACH SLOTCONSTITUTING A GUIDE RAIL, FIRST GROOVED ROLLER MEANS OUTSTANDING FROMEACH WALL ADJACENT ONE END OF ITS ASSOCIATED SLOT, AND A PLATFORM MEMBERHAVING WALL PORTIONS EXTENDING PARALLEL TO SAID CONFRONTING WALL, SECONDGROOVED ROLLER MEANS OUTSTANDING FROM EACH WALL PORTION INTO ONE OF SAIDSLOTS AND SLIDABLY MOUNTED ON THE GUIDE RAIL OF ITS ASSOCIATED SLOT,SAID PLATFORM MEMBER BEING EQUIPPED WITH SPACED DEPENDING FLANGESCONSTITUTING SAID WALL PORTIONS, EACH OF SAID FLANGES PROVIDING A SECONDGUIDE RAIL ALONG ITS LOWER EDGE FOR COACTION WITH SAID FIRST GROOVEDROLLER MEANS, SAID FIRST GROOVED ROLLER MEANS BEING POSITIONED BELOWSAID ONE END OF ITS ASSOCIATED SLOT.